How to Reduce Stress

Stress is a necessary part of life and yet in excess, it is the precursor for most disease. Stress is also purely subjective. How we respond to stress is what allows us to move forward in a healthy manner or not. What some of us may see as exciting and adventurous, others may find anxiety-causing.

What causes stress?

1. Inability to adapt when challenged

2. Uncertainty or existential anxiety

3. Lack of Prana/Lifeforce

4. Negative emotions

What to do about it?

The first thing is do is to slow down, practice relaxed breathing, consciously relax the muscles of the body, and practice awareness and focus.

We become more stressed when we rigidly attach to a situation or to an idea. Why? Because we want to control it, to feel safe. But everything in nature, in life, is in a constant state of flux.

Stress occurs when we resist what is.

“What is” happens to be in discord with our expectations, assumptions, plans, or desires.

“What is” is not what we expected, or planned, etc.

So we get stressed about it.

In reality, we can only control our own thoughts. Yet, we try to control everything in every situation – to ensure the outcome. But we cannot change things beyond our immediate environment. The number of variables in any situation is incalculable. We cannot possibly take everything into consideration. But god knows we try.

Most of us are actually well equipped for a situation at hand, but our attachments and ideas cause unnecessary worry.

Next time you find yourself in a seemingly stressful situation, ask yourself: “Can I really control this situation/event? Can I influence the outcome by being stressed?”

In most cases the answer is No.

Then what should we do instead?

From Yoga (and other spiritual traditions), we learn to Be Present. This advice requires a little explanation.

In Yoga, we learn to see our mind as a useful tool (for collecting and processing of sensory information, communication, and self-reflection). But the mind is just that – a useful tool. Yogis state that the mind is not who you are. It’s only a tool you use to get around. The real true self is consciousness. The same consciousness that operates the Solar system, the intricacy of a spider’s web, and every process in your body like breathing, digestion, and cell rejuvenation, and that is actually who you are.

Be Present means to be present to this never-ending eternal flow of consciousness. To your own true nature.

The flow of consciousness is always in the present moment. The mind is never in the present moment.

Notice that if you attempt to pinpoint the exact thought in this very moment, you cannot. You discover that in the moment, there are no thoughts! The mind either dwells in the past (even if it’s immediate past) or jumps to plan for the future.

It is in fact the mind that wishes to control every situation and is feeling stressed.

Your inner witness (the part that is aware) is not feeling stressed – it is only the observer of the stressed mind, and of the present moment. So let the mind feel a little stressed. Let yourself be present with the witnessing consciousness. Breath in. Breath out. And so on.

Once this practice becomes a habit, stress becomes very manageable. It becomes a thing – observable, and even useful, at times. The key, of course, is to make it a habit, which takes time and consistent practice of Being Present.

We may also feel stressed when we lack Prana, or vital energy, to cope with problems in our daily life.

If you have high Prana, than you can handle any challenge. You can store up your Prana through 5 elements of health – Exercise, Breathing, Relaxation, Diet and Positive Thinking.